Creighton won the regular season title in the Missouri Valley, but it could be their final year in the league if a Big East offer comes. / Dave Weaver, USA TODAY Sports

by Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports

by Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports

Creighton hasn't announced its departure from the Missouri Valley Conference ‚?? and probably won't this week during the league's basketball tournament ‚?? but informal conversations have already begun on a plan of action should they join the Catholic 7/Big East, as expected.

According to a person with direct knowledge of the league's thinking, Denver and Belmont would have significant support as candidates to replace Creighton, with Loyola (Ill.) also getting consideration and Oral Roberts looming as a longshot with less support. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the league has not authorized anyone to speak publicly about the matter, and Creighton hasn't officially given notice of a departure.

Creighton has been one of the Valley's bellwether programs, with a strong fan base and eight NCAA tournament appearances in the past 13 years. The Valley won't be able to replace Creighton with a comparable program, but the person with knowledge said preserving the league's current public/private balance is important.

When asked Friday at the Missouri Valley Conference tournament in St. Louis about the potential candidates, league commissioner Doug Elgin said, "Very premature. Boldface and italicized. We still have 10 members. Anything I would say would be speculative and irresponsible. Of course we always have strategic planning, and certainly membership issues are always in that mix."

Ironically, Denver and Belmont have been caught up in the whirlwind of realignment already. Denver jumped from the Sun Belt to the WAC this season but announced it will join the Summit League in 2013-14. Belmont, which has been to five NCAA tournaments in the past seven years, jumped from the Atlantic Sun to the Ohio Valley this year. Both schools are among the favorites to win their respective league's automatic NCAA tournament bids this week.